Ottawa: Rideau CentreOttawa's Rideau Centre will get a 157,000 square foot, two-level Nordstrom store on the top two floors of the mall's former Sears store. The exterior rendering of the store is the top image in this article. Our Nordstrom insider informs us the store will include an expanded women's designer department called 'Collectors' that will directly compete with the small designer floor at Ottawa's Holt Renfrew. Our Nordstrom insider tells us they are also well aware that Hudson's Bay plans to start renovations on its Rideau Street store and that Hudson's Bay will attempt to beef-up its designer offerings. Nordstrom will attempt to secure many designer labels Hudson's Bay would carry including Rachel Roy, Spendid, Diane von Furstenberg, McQ Alexander McQueen and "many others". Our Nordstrom insider says despite Hudson's Bay's renovations (and eventual inclusion of a TopShop concession), Nordstrom will trump Hudson's Bay especially in the area of shoes and customer service.Thank you to our Ottawa Retail Insider Geoffrey Hall for directing us to the Ottawa store renderings.

Nordstrom, Calgary Chinook Centre. Image: Nordstrom

Calgary: Chinook CentreThe Calgary Chinook Centre Nordstrom will occupy about 140,000 square feet of Chinook Centre's former 173,000 square foot Sears store. The store will be two floors and we'll soon reveal the store's department layout, as per our Nordstrom insider. The front portion of the former Sears store will be configured to multi-tenant retail, while the back half of the former Sears store will be Nordstrom. See the image below, showing Nordstrom's partial occupation of the former Sears.

Chinook Centre, Nordstrom in Blue. Note: Only part of Sears will be occupied by Nordstrom. Image: Nordstrom

We previously provided images of the recently announced Yorkdale Shopping Centre Nordstrom store, and our Nordstrom insider tells us it will attempt to secure a sufficient designer roster to compete both with Hudson's Bay, Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew. Holt's will still be "by far" the most upscale anchor at Yorkdale, though Nordstrom will attempt to outdo Holt's in the customer service department. Both will battle for shoes, especially with Holt's soon-to-open 10,000 square foot shoe department. Our Nordstrom insider also says Harry Rosen should be vigilant since Nordstrom will put great effort into offering quality designer men's clothing and accessories with exceptional customer service. Nordstrom website: www.nordstrom.com